ambr0zie

I would agree. Here is my Macedon Thessalonica with a similar design (but 20 mm and 5.1 g)

My smallest bronze coin Troas, Gargara Æ. 7 mm, 0,63 g ca 350 BC, Laureate head of Apollo right. / ΓAΡ above horse galloping right. Lindgren 362; SNG AUL 7599, SNG AUL 1511, SNG LEIPZIG 1113, SNG COP 20 331 And of course, my first ever individual purchase

I am not a Seleukid coins collector but I wanted to add a few. Seleukid Kingdom. Sardeis. Antiochos I Soter 281-261 BC. Bronze Æ 13 mm., 2,62 g Houghton-Lorber 315a; Newell WSM 1369; BMC Seleucid p. 13, 58; SNG Spaer 233; SNG Cop 77; SGCV II 6883; HGC 9 167 (R2), , Sardes (Sart, Turkey) mint, bust of Athena facing, wearing triple-crested Attic helmet; reverse Nike walking left, raising wreath in right hand, long palm frond over left shoulder in left hand, BAΣIΛEΩΣ (king) downward on right, ANTIOXOY downward on right, symbol in circle outer left (control), no control right The second Seleukid coin I bought, in the same auction, is the reason I replied. I was checking my collection today and I was surprised of how beautiful this coin is in hand - plenty of details and an excellent black, homogeneous toning. Seleukid Kingdom. Magnesia on the Maeander . Seleukos II Kallinikos 246-226 BC. Bronze Æ 17 mm., 4,02 Obv: Head of Artemis right, bow and quiver behind. Rev: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΣEΛEYKOY. Apollo standing left, testing arrow and resting bow on ground; all within maeander pattern. Controls: Monogram in field to outer right, two monograms in field to outer left. SC 670. The 3rd one, in the same auction also, was a (weak) excuse to add a coin with an elephant in my collection. Seleukid Kingdom. Sardeis. Antiochos III Megas 223-187 BC. Bronze Æ 12 mm., 1,96 g. Obv - Laureate head of Apollo right, with spiral curls Rev - Legend: BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ ANTIOXOY (vertical left and right), monogram above elephant Elephant standing left SC 981 My last Seleukid was bought for the reverse. I don't have an Athens tetradrachm so this is good to ilustrate the image 🙂 SELEUKID KINGS of SYRIA. Cleopatra Thea & Antiochos VIII. (126/5-121/0 BC) AE20 Antioch, Dated SE 190 = 123/2 Mint: Antioch Radiate and diademed head of Antiochos VIII right Rev: Owl standing right on fallen amphora, head facing; IE to inner right; below, PP (date, first P retrograde) and palm. Legend: BAΣΙΛIΣΣHΣ KΛEOΠATPAΣ KAI BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ ANTIOXOY SC 2263.2f. 6,66 g, 20mm

Are insects allowed? Ionia. Ephesos circa 500-420 BC. Diobol AR 11 mm., 0,92 g Bee with slightly curved wings, on it spiral decoration. R / Quadripartite incuse square Karwiese Series VI, 2A; SNG Kayhan 124 If not, a ram should be. Caria, Kasolaba(?), c. 420-400 BC. AR Hemiobol. Ram’s head right / Youthful male head right within incuse. Konuk, Kasolaba 5; Klein 496-8 (Uncertain) A raven, a cow and a calf LLYRIA, Dyrrhachion. Circa 250-200 BC. AR Drachm Meniskos and Dionysios, magistrates. Cow standing right, looking back at suckling calf standing left below; above, raven standing right above MENIΣΚΟΣ / Double stellate pattern; ΔYP-ΔΙ[Ο-ΝΥ-ΣΟΥ] around; all within linear circle border. Ceka –; Maier 201; SNG Copenhagen 467.

Wile E. Coyote for me (although it was not on my top preferences as a child Thrace. Hadrianopolis. Gordian III AD 238-244. Bronze Æ 16 mm, 2,32 g AYT K M ANT ΓOΡΔIANOC AV, laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right / AΔΡIANOΠOΛEITΩN, ostrich walking right Varbanov 3833; RPC VII.2, — (unassigned; ID 67356); Jurukova, Hadrianopolis 676; Moushmov 2630A

This is not Victory, but Minerva disguised as Victory. Domitian AD 81-96. Rome. Denarius AR/ 18 mm, 2,62 g RIC II, Part 1 (second edition) Domitian 791. Old RIC 194 (s) C. 294; BMC 237; CBN 210. Date Range: AD 95 - AD 96 IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P XV, head of Domitian, laureate, right / IMP XXII COS XVII CENS P P P/ Minerva Victrix, winged, flying l., holding javelin and round shield. Note: The iconography of this coin is most intriguing. This is the only depiction of a winged Minerva in all of Roman coinage, and indeed the concept itself has few parallels in surviving classical art. The closest comparable figure may be found in the winged statue of Minerva Victrix at Ostia, which originally formed part of the decoration of the upper gate known as the Porta Romana. This winged form of Minerva may well have been taken from earlier Greek images of Athena, such as that shown on a black-figure vase found at Orvieto and illustrated in Röm. Mitt. XII, pl. xii, which shows two representations of Athena – one winged and one without wings. With the exception of Nike-Victoria, most of the Greco-Roman gods had shed their wings by the early classical period; that such an archaism should be revived in the time of Domitian is therefore quite inexplicable, save perhaps for the possibility that it was simply an act of whimsy by an emperor who was known to favour Minerva above all other gods.

First of all, congratulations for starting this journey. There is a big chance you will be very happy with the outcome. I first saw an ancient coin in hand in 2015 I think, when I bought some very worn LRBs from a numismatic show. Although the price was pleasant (I was under the impression that any ancient coin is expensive - not 4 digits but I was pleased to buy coins for 2-3 EUR. I thought it was a fantastic deal back then, it wasn't in fact 😄 ) I didn't like them too much and in October 2020 I was bored and thought what to do next with my collection, as my modern coins and notes collection was almost complete, for my standards and goals. So I decided to start studying ancients, knowing it's difficult, expensive (not as expected, but not peanuts money for a man who isn't rich). But VERY rewarding. Here are my first ever purchase from auctions. A lot of 34 coins (described erroneously as "Roman Bronze coins" - there were a few silver coins and a Campania, Neapolis) Same auction - a lot of 8 denarii And a lot of 4 denarii (in fact, 3 denarii and an antoninianus) This was my start in this journey. I think they were cheap (the auction was not popular) and suddenly I had a base for my collection. It was extremely educational to identify all the coins myself (like you, I had zero knowledge back them). I recognized a Trajan portrait from the big lot and I was able to read some names on the better coins from the silver lots. So I started researching, finding auction sites, comparing prices, realizing what coins suit my tastes. A month later I was browsing an auction and saw a coin liked very much. I was not aware there are reverses with animals (and studying further I found various reverses I liked a lot). Won this one and was extremely happy. I still consider myself a beginner (I have 1 year and a half of experience with this area). So there is still much to learn. The number of ancient coins is enormous and this is an advantage - as you have a huge number to choose from - depending on what you want to collect - Roman imperial coins? perhaps concentrating on a ruler/dynasty/period? Provincial coins? Greek? Other cultures? There are some collectors who specialize on a niche - I will not nominate them because I am sure they can offer you advice - but I learned myself from colleagues who specialize on dynasties; or certain coin types (Macedonian shields :p); Roman Republican types - probably the most elaborate designs from antiquity; or other cultures, such as Parthian coins. You are starting so I am going to tell you what I did in my first months - I was browsing auctions coin by coin and when a coin looked appealing, I tried reading about it. Who is that guy Antoninus Pius? how was him as an emperor? what is that reverse, is it a deity, what is that object he/she is holding. What is the city for this Provincial coin? does it still exist? who lived there? et caetera. Of course I tried to inform myself about an estimate price and decide if I am comfortable with it and if I want to bid on the coin. Few things in my life were as pleasant as winning a coin I was waiting for weeks, and especially when I won them with a good price. A few months later I started looking at the Greek and Republican sections in auctions (for me they were discouraging initially) and when I liked a coin, I tried to win it. And on many occasions I won. My collection is not as impressive as some collections owned by forum colleagues, but I am proud and I rarely have 2 days without browsing my album. I did not find a certain niche to specialize in. When I buy a new coin, usually it's: - a coin with a pleasant design for me - animals, mythological scenes ... - Imperial coins from rulers I like - Trajan, Vespasian, Titus (to name just a few) - Imperial coins from rulers missing from my collection - when I find one that is appealing and cheap, I tried to add a new name - Republican coins, as it is an area i try to learn more about. I wish you good luck and happy collecting.

Here is my earliest Provincial. Roman Republic, Macedonia, Thessalonica, Mark Anthony and Octavian, year 5 (37 BC) Obv ΑΓΩΝΟΘΕΣΙΑ, head of Agonothesia, r. / Rev ΑΝΤ ΚΑΙ in wreath RPC I 1552a, BMC 64, Cop 375

Titus AD 79-81. Rome Denarius AR 16 mm, 2,86 g January-June AD 80. IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M, laureate head of Titus right / TR P IX IMP XV COS VIII P P, Pulvinar (throne) of Jupiter and Juno with square seat, draped, with tassels and triangular frame. RIC 124. RSC 313a. Reason - condition is under my (low) standards but I wanted to add this type of a reverse at a low price.

Great coins, Ryro (and rest of the coin owners)... hmmmm where did I see these coins.... 🥸 I can only contribute with a coin I always wanted in my collection and I was very happy to grab this - pretty decent coin with a very decent price. Ionia. Smyrna. Bronze Æ 21 mm, 6,26 g 75-50 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right; laurel wreath border / ΞMYPNAIΩN, Homer seated left, resting chin on hand and holding transverse sceptre. Milne 359; SNG Copenhagen 1207; BMC 116; Mionnet 921; Weber 6138; SNG Tuebingen 3180. Note: although uncertainty remains, from textual analysis of both the Iliad and the Odyssey scholars have noted Homer's knowledge of sites in Ionia such as the river Meles, and have thus proposed that it is likely that the poet had roots there. One of many cities claiming to be the birthplace of this most important bard Smyrna, along with cities such as Colophon and Chios, included Homer on the coinage, as can be seen on the present piece.

Welcome! My Parthian sector of the collection consists in this sole coin, bought because I always wanted ... just one. Kings of Parthia. Ekbatana. Artabanus II (...), cca 10-38 Drachm AR 18 mm, 2,87 g Obv/ bare-headed bust left with medium square cut beard, wearing diadem with loop at the top and three ends, hair almost straight, earring visible; border of dots Rev/ beardless archer, seated right on throne; in right hand, bow; below bow monogram 26; Greek inscription ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ / ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ / ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ ΔΙΚΑΙΟΣ / ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ legend on left read from outside Sellwood 63.6

Septimius Severus AD 193-211. Rome. Denarius AR 17 mm, 2,29 g RIC IV Septimius Severus 266 (denarius); RSC 222; BMC 335-8 Date Range: AD 202 - AD 210 SEVERVS PIVS AVG Head of Septimius Severus, laureate, right INDVLGENTIA AVGG IN CARTH Dea Caelestis, draped, riding right on lion, holding thunderbolt in right hand and sceptre in left hand; below, water gushing from rock Next - somebody riding something else than a horse.

Next theme is: another non silver coin from Athens - apologies, I was replying to Steve but didn't see Ryro answered before me.

Very cool, Steve. I also own the L. Papius Celsus denarius - a very unique design. I was lucky enough to get an example with the curious technical feature of this coin - the eagle's wing goes over the dotted border. Now back to your request SELEUKID KINGS of SYRIA. Cleopatra Thea & Antiochos VIII. (126/5-121/0 BC) AE20 Antioch, Dated SE 190 = 123/2 Mint: Antioch Radiate and diademed head of Antiochos VIII right Rev: Owl standing right on fallen amphora, head facing; IE to inner right; below, PP (date, first P retrograde) and palm. Legend: BAΣΙΛIΣΣHΣ KΛEOΠATPAΣ KAI BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ ANTIOXOY SC 2263.2f. 6,66 g, 20mm Next - an owl - but not on a tetradrachm

This was a popular reverse, from what I read it represents an ancient statue (now lost). It is also found on coins with portraits of Titus (several dates), Julia Titi, Faustina II (an example is owned by, who would have guessed, @Roman Collector) and Septimius Severus. There might be others. The first Julia Domna from my previous post is a recent acquisition - I bought it thinking that it might be from the Eastern mints. Wrong. Both are from Rome but I am not bothered - the styles are different so I can't consider them identical coins.

It is very difficult to pick one. My collection is not large (currently consisting in 312 ancient coins) and without spectacular conditions or rarities. I know many coin collectors (not only ancient coins collectors) have an issue - they love a coin until they get it and then they forget about it. I don't have this problem - I often browse my album and it is very relaxing to remember the adrenaline boost I had when winning the coin, or the days were i impatiently expected the auction, hoping to get a certain coin. They didn't have to be extremely rare or excellent condition - just I had to like them. Again, very difficult and I already had about 10 coins in mind but here is one who was very popular among fellow collectors. For this coin I even broke my promise last year - I didn't want to buy any coins in the last 2 months of the year, but this one appeared and I was determined to get it. Of course the reverse type has been the subject of many jokes (many made by me =)) ) but speaking seriously, the artistry of the engraving makes me think about ancient statues. This type was issued by many rulers, but I have rarely seen an example with this kind of details. I have 2 other examples (both from Julia Domna) and I like them, but the artistry level doesn't compare.

Mirror you say? Hmmm.... In my personal catalogue, I keep the original auction house photos, their description (corrected/info added if needed) plus a photo I take. Something like Because the light in my house is not suitable for photos and my phone was simply not designed for macro photos, for a long time I didn't take pics of my coins at all as the results were very bad. Last summer, I just gambled and bought a 15 years old digital camera, that wasn't very expensive even when it was launched (Panasonic Lumix DZ7). But the results were much better than I was expecting really. I use my window sill as a background. Cyan background from a notebook, white paper or a black cloth did not produce good results (but I admit I lack patience and skills for photography). An experienced collector taught me to raise the coin a little as this makes the coin more focused plus an aesthetic effect (imo). Never tried your idea with the mirror - will sure try it.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with Gordian III coins. Especially yours. In my opinion, common rulers like him are interesting to collect as there is a large variety of coins to choose from, so the interesting reverses and/or the good condition coins are affordable. As a side note, I don't own a Galba coin yet. Provincial or Imperial. Of course, one of the reasons is the price for them, but I am often wondering if I am willing to pay 250 EUR on a modest denarius just to have Galba ticked, especially since the reverse would be most likely boring (this is one of the things I look after a new coin, perhaps it's just me). Instead, I prefer to buy 5 coins that are more common, but also more interesting. Back to Gordian III - the denarius I like the most is this, also because of the reverse - I really like the way Hercules is depicted - ancient punk rocker? Gordian III AR Antoninianus. Rome, AD 241-243. Obv: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG. Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust to right. Rev: VIRTVTI AVGVSTI Hercules, naked, standing facing, head to right, resting one hand on hip and other on club set on rock; lion skin beside club. RIC IV 95; RSC 404 3.27 gr. 23 mm But my favorite Gordian III is this Hadrianopolis - probably my favorite provincial. Thrace. Hadrianopolis. Gordian III AD 238-244. Bronze Æ 16 mm, 2,32 g AYT K M ANT ΓOΡΔIANOC AV, laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right / AΔΡIANOΠOΛEITΩN, ostrich walking right Varbanov 3833; RPC VII.2, — (unassigned; ID 67356); Jurukova, Hadrianopolis 676; Moushmov 2630A

Welcome, @Egry I was fortunate enough to be invited on this forum and frankly I like it better than CT, especially since all the people I knew virtually and learned some secrets of this hobby from are here. I have an example of your coin. In a completely different condition, but it is one of my favorite denarii nevertheless. It was from my first purchase of ancient coins, in a lot of 8 denarii (bought for a very decent price in an auction that was very unpopular; much less than I thought a silver denarius costs and anyway a good price even today - this was 1 year and a half ago). Beginner's luck. I was a complete noob but I wanted to identify all the coins myself (which I did) and I remember I had to check who is that emperor (had no idea) and after identifying the coin I also made a check on Lucius Verus as I never heard of him before collecting. My favorite Verus coin is a Divus Verus issue. AD 168 DIVVS VERVS, head of Lucius Verus bare, right / CONSECRATIO, funeral pyre in four tiers (ustrina), adorned with statues and garlands, quadriga on top RIC III Marcus Aurelius 596B; RSC 55, BMC 503

Triple crested Attic helmet Archaic style Attic helmet An Attic helmet decorated with Pegasus Corinthian: Attic on RR

One of my favorite Provincials is this Augustus from Kyzikos with capricorn reverse RPC I, 2245, F.W. Hasluck, NC 1906, 27, no. 3, AMC 1183 A skinny Nero - AD 60, Sardeis ΝΕΡΩΝ ΚΑΙⳞΑΡ, laureate head of Nero r / ΕΠΙ ΜΙΝΔΙΟΥ ⳞΑΡΔΙΑΝΩΝ, laureate head of Heracles, r., with lion skin tied round neck RPC I, 3002, BMC 120, Cop 522 corr. A Claudius from Aizanis ΚΛΑΥΔΙΟΝ ΚΑΙϹΑΡΑ ΑΙΖΑΝΙΤΑΙ, laureate head of Claudius, r. / ƐΠΙ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ ΜΗΤΡΟΓƐΝΟΥϹ, Zeus standing left with eagle and sceptre RPC I, 3089 From the same city, a coin with the portrait of Agrippina II A rare lady, tough to acquire in Imperial coinage - Ionia. Magnesia ad Sipylum. Domitia AD 82-96. Bronze Æ 15 mm, 2,86 g ΔΟΜΙΤΙΑ ϹƐΒΑϹΤΗ, draped bust of Domitia, right / ΜΑΓΝΗ ϹΙΠΥ, river god reclining l., holding branch of plant and cornucopia over inverted pot from which flows water RPC II, 986; BMC 56; Cop 259 One of the most common city to get provincials coins from is Antioch. I don't complain as the portraits are very realistic. Some of my 1st century coins from Antioch Claudius Otho Domitian And a Trajan dated 98-99 where I particularily liked another reverse, not the large S C and also the portrait, where it's clear that the engravers had Nerva in mind.

Æ 22 mm, 6,37 g Pontic Kingdom, Amisos. Mithradates VI. 120-63 B.C, local civic issue of common type under Mithradates VI. 100-85 B.C. Facing Gorgonion as boss of fleece (aegis)-covered, octagonal shield / AMI-ΣOY, ethnic across fields divided by Nike, walking right, holding wreath and palm-branch; monograms in lower fields. SNG Cop.167 var; SNG BM Black Sea 1177-91; HGC 7, Next - Amisos, but not the Perseus and Medusa reverse.

I have a coin with Drusus and Germanicus portraits. Not the best out there, but ... MYSIA. Pergamum. Germanicus & Drusus (Caesares, 14-19). Ae. Struck under Tiberius. Obv: ΓEPMANIKOΣ KAIΣAP. Bare head of Germanicus right. Rev: ΔPOVΣOΣ KAIΣAP. Bare head of Drusus right. RPC I 2367.

Only 1 in my collection but I liked this coin from the moment I saw it and impatiently waited for the auction Moesia Inferior. Marcianopolis. Septimius Severus, with Julia Domna AD 193-211. Pentassarion Æ 28 mm, 11,42 g Septimius Severus, with Julia Domna. AD 193-211. Moesia, Marcianopolis. Flavius Ulpianus, legatus consularis. Struck AD 210-211. Æ Pentassarion . AV K Λ CEΠ CEYHΡOC IOYΛIA ΔOMNA CEB; Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Septimius Severus and draped bust of Julia Domna facing one another / ΥΦΛ ΟΥΛΠΙΑΝΟΥ ΜΑΡΚΙΑΝΟΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ; Tyche standing left, holding rudder and cornucopia; Є (mark of value) to left. H&J, Marcianopolis 6.15.35.4; AMNG I 601; Varbanov 868; Moushmov 411.

Macedon. Thessalonica. Tiberius and Livia AD 14-37. Bronze Æ 21 mm, 8,41 g Obv: ΤΙ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΣ, head of Tiberius, r. / ΣΕΒΑΣΤΗ ΘΕΣΣΑΛΟΝΙΚΕΩΝ, bust of Livia, r RPC I 1567, Touratsoglou, Tiberius 38–61 (c. 22–3 and later) Next - Tiberius